Inking mechanism for printing machines



May 3, 1938. F; LAMATSCH A2,115,734

y INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES v s sneaks-sheet 1 Filed Octf 25, 193A I A'Ar-FY.

May 3, 1938, F. LAMATscH INKING MECHNISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES s sheets-sheet 2 Filed. Octf 23, 1934 y S WIWI um;

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INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed-oct. 23, 19:54 s sheets-sheet :5

' INVE NTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INKING. MECIIANISM Fon PRINTING MACHINES Frederick Lamatsch, Grantwood, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to R. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October Z3, 1934, Serial No. 749,637

18 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines, and more particularly to certain improvements in inking mechanism for high speed rotary printing presses.

. Engineers in the designs of modern high speed rotary printing presses are constantly faced With the problem of providing improved means for satisfying the progressively increasing demand for greaterprinting speed and space conservation, and also for the production of higher quality printing. .In printing presses of the newspaper type, the modern tendency is to condense the printing units as far as possible, consistent with good printing, and in .these units the inking r mechanism is usually positioned below the printing cylinders. The inking mechanism, in conformity with the demand for space conservation, is also condensed as far as possible without sacrificing printing quality. Many experiments have been resorted to to solve this problem, but it has been found that the employment of rotary reciprocating ink distributing cylinders best satisfy the design requirements for good quality printing in this type of printing machine. In order that high grade printing may be produced, it is necessary that the supplied ink be first worked into a uniform ink iilm, and then conveyed to the printing surface or printing plate of the plate cylinders. If a great number of ink distributing cylinders and rollers are employed, satisfactory results may be produced, but owing to the requirements for condensed printing units, the-number of operating components employed, such as ink distributing cylinders and rollers, is necessarily limited.

Inking mechanism has been provided in which two rotary reciprocating ink distributing cylinders are employed. but such an arrangement is not entirely satisfactory owing to the tendency of varying torque being set up in the cylinder driving mechanism. 'I'he two cylinder arrangement is further objectionable, because, at times, only one cylinder is being reciprocated, and the axially stationary cylinder tends to produce unequal distribution of ink supplied to the surface of .the printing cylinders. This objection could be overcome by employing a greater number of ink distributing cylinders, but such an arrangement would be impractical, owing to the space required for their utilization. The employment of any number of ink distributing cylinders greater than three or four is not practically feasible in the modern high speed rotary printing presses, because their use would increase the size of the printing units to objectionable proportions.

Applicant has found that novel and unexpected results are obtained by employing three ink dis-` tributing cylinders in the inking mechanism of each printing couple of modern high speed printing presses, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink mechanism for high speed rotary printing presses in which the essential operating components of the inking :mechanism are constructed and arranged to supply a uniform ink iilm to the printing surface or plate of each plate or form cylinder with the employment of a minimum number of operating components and preferably three rotary reciprocatory ink distributing cylinders.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inking mechanism for rotary printing machines, in which a plurality of rotary ink distributing cylinders are employed, and these cylinders so operated that each cylinder is reciprocated axially in a uniform period of a complete cycle of operation of all the cylinders, and only one cylinder' being axially stationary at a time.

A further object of this invention is to provide an inking mechanism for rotary printing machines, in which three inking distributing cylinders are employed for each plate lcylinder of the printing machine, and these cylinders reciprocated by a common rotary instrumentality so that uniform torque is set up in the driving instrumentality, and each cylinder reciprocated during a uniform period of a complete operating cycle of all the cylinders.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an inking mechanism for each plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine, and each inking -mechanism including three horizontally disposed ink distributing cylinders positioned in substantially vertical alinement immediately below each plate cylinder, and the supplied ink conveyed to the lowermost ink distributing cylinder at a portion of its periphery which is disposed toward the center of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inking mechanism for rotary printing machines 'In which three ink distributing cylinders are employed for each plate cylinder, and these cylinders driven by a common instrumentality so that each cylinder is reciprocated 120 degrees in advance of the succeeding or following cylinder in the sequence of operation of these cylinders.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a printing' machine including a plurality of mechanical connections for imparting drive impulses to the operating components of the printing machine, and an oil tight housing containing lubricant fcr each mechanical connection and constructed andarranged so that each housing is entirely independent of the remaining housings.`

It is also an object of my present invention to provide for use in printing machines an inking mechanism of generally improved construction and arrangement, whereby the device will be simple, durable -and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eilicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combinationl and arrangement of parts, and in the detalls of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes inform, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

For a complete disclosure of the invention, a

detail description of a printing machine embodying the improved inking mechanism will now be given in connection with the-accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view of a, printing unit, looking in the direction of the axes of the printing cylinders and showing the improved inking mechanism applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmental side elevation of the printing unit depicted in Figure 1, and viewed in the direction of the indicated arrow, parts being shown in the sections;` and i Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatical view depicting phases of operations of the improved inking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate` corresponding parts, I6 and II indicate the side frames of a printing unit in which the two printing couples A and B are operably mounted. Each printing couple includes a plate or form cylinder I4 and an impression cylinder I 5. Any suitable means may be employed for driving the printing couples, and in the present instance, in conformity with the usual practice, a vertical shaft I'I is driven from any operating component, not shown, of the printing machine, and this shaft carries a beveled pinion I8 which meshes with a beveled gear I9, and the gear I9 is secured to and rotates with a gear 20, which, in turn, meshes with a gear 2| secured to the shaft or trunnion 22 of the impression cylinder I5 of the printing couple A. The shaft or trunnion 23 of the cylinder I4 of the printing couple Ahas a gear 24 secured thereto, and the gear 24 meshes with the gear 2I, thereby completing the drive for the printing couple A. 'Ihe printing couple B is also driven from the vertical shaft I1 through a gear 26, which meshes with the gear 20. The gear 26 is operably supported by the shaft or trunnion 23 of the plate cylinder I4 of the printing couple B, and the gear 26 meshes with a similar gear 28 carried by theshaft 22 of the impression cylinder I5 of the printing couple B.

By this arrangement the printing cylinders are driven in operable synchronism, but it is to be understood that any preferred form of cylinder drive may be resorted to and that this drive forms no part of the present invention.

The web W is led from any suitable web supply, not shown, over a roller 3U to the first printing couple A, and then over a roller 3I to the second printing couple B, where the web is perfected, in conformity with the usual practice.

The improved inking mechanism forming the subject matter of this application, includes thrce horizontally disposed ink distribution cylinders 34 for each plate cylinder of the printing unit. Inasmuch as the inking mechanism for each plate cylinder is similarly constructed and arranged, only one of the inking mechanisms will be described in detail in order that repetition may be avoided.

The shaft or trunnion of each plate cylinder I4 has a drive worm 36 secured to one terminal thereof, and this worm meshes with a worm Wheel 3l, carried by a substantially vertically disposed crank shaft 39. The upper portion of the crank shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 40 formed in a cap or removeable portions 42 of an oil or lubricant container or housing 43 which incloses the worm 36, worm wheel 31 and gear 24. The crank shaft 39 is also rotatably mounted in spaced bearings 44 formed in or supported by separate oil or lubricant receptacles or housings 46, the purpose of which is to be hereinafter disclosed. Each ink distributing cylinder 34 is provided with a shaft or trunnion 48, and each shaft is mounted for both rotation and reciprocation in bearing members 50, supported by the machine frames I0 and II. The cnd of each ink distributing cylinder shaft 48 which is positioned tc- Wards the crank shaft 39 is provided with a swivelhead 52. Each swivel-head 52 is provided with spaced lugs or bearing ears 54, to which a connecting rod or pitman 56 is pivotally secured. and the opposed terminal of each pitman 56 is operably secured to an offset portion or crank member 58 carried by the crank shaft 39. The detailed construction of the swivel-heads 52, connecting rods 56 and crank members 58 is disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,977,444.

In order that ready access may be had to each lubricating receptacle or housing 46, there is provided a detachable cover member or closure 60 for each housing, and each cover member is secured to its housing by suitable securing devices 62. Each crank shaft 39 is held against longitudinal motion at one terminal by a collar or sleeve 38, formed on the worm gear 3'I and engaging the inner face of the bearing 40 of the lubricant housing 42, and the opposed terminal of the crank shaft 39 is held against longitudinal motion by a collar or washer 64 and a screw or suitable securing device 66. In order to prevent the escape of lubricant from the lowermost lubricant housing 46 through its lower bearing 44, an oil seal or member 68 surrounds the collar and securing members 64 and 66. Y The crank mechanism imparts reciprocatory motion to the ink distributing cylinders 34, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed, and in order to rotate these cylinders a suitable gear train is provided, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,977,444. This gear train includes gears 10, secured to the terminals of the ink distributor cylinder shafts 48, and the gears 'I0 mesh with broadidler gears 12, and the uppermost of the idler gears 12 is driven from gear 'I4 which is operably supported by the shaft 23 of each printing cylinder I4.

The ink distributing cylinders, as disclosed in Figures l and 2, are horizontally disposed and arranged so that they are positioned in substantially vertical alinement below each plate cylinder.

'tributing cylinders.

By this arrangement a compact structure is produced and one which peculiarly lends itself to advantageous positioning of the ink supplying rails. Asshown in Figure l, form rollers 18 operably engage the uppermost ink distributing cylinder 34, and the adjacent plate cylinder I4. Ink distributing or transfer rollers 18 vare operably interposed between the adjacent ink distributing cylinders 84, and the peripheral portions of the rollers 'I8v engage the peripheries of these ink dis- Additional ink distributing rollers 88 are also positioned to engage the peripheral portions of the ink dstributingcylinders 34 which are positioned towards the center of the printing unit, thereby further aiding in producing a uniform ink nlm.

By this arrangement the three ink distributing cylinders 34 for each plate cylinder I4 are driven so that the portionsof their peripheries which are positioned toward the center of the printing unit move or rotate upwardly, and the upwardly moving portion of the peripheries of each lowermost ink distributing cylinder has ink supplied thereto by an ink rail 82. This arrangement permits each ink rail to be positioned ,at a point furthest removed operably from each plate cylinder, and, also, permits the ink rails to be positioned towards the central portion ofthe printing unit between the inking mechanisms. This construction and arrangement is ,highly advantageous, because each link rail 82 is positioned at a point most remote operably frpm the plate cylinders thereby insuring perfect ink distribution; and these ink rails are also located at points removed from' the aisle space provided ateach side of the printing machine, thus affording the machine operator ready access to these aisle spaces. In compliance with the demand for space conservation, the printing units of. a modern printing line are placed as closely together as is possible consistent with the ready access of the operators intothe aisle space provided between adjacent units. Therefore, applicant, by providing a construction and arrangement which locates ink rails between the ink distributing mechanisms and away from the aisle space does thereby conserve valuable aisle space.

Each crank shaft 38 has its offset or crank portions 58 arranged 120 degrees apart, as disclosed in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, and inasmuch as three crank members are provided for each crank shaft a complete rotation of 360 degrees of the crank shaft imparts la complete reciprocatory cycle of operation tothe three ink distributing cylinders operated by the crank. shaft. By this arrangement, 'substantially constant torque is insured during the operation of the crank shaft 39, and no more than one ink distributing cylinder 34 is axially stationary at. a given time, thus insuring perfect ink distribution. 'Ihese advantages are peculiarly existent in an arrangement Where three crank members are carried by a common shaft or rotating member, because, if only two cranks were employed and they are uniformly spaced, then both their ink distributing cylinders would be stationary at the same time. If an attempt were made to avoid both cylinders being stationary at the same time by positioning the crank members so that they are spaced more or less than 180 degrees apart, then the operating torque would be unequally distributed, thereby setting up objectionable vibratory impulses. If four cylinders and four crank members were employed, then two of the cylinders would be stationary at a time, which tends to produce faulty ink distribution, and the employment of any number of cylinders greater than four would be practically impossible owing to the space limitation in the design of modern high speed vprinting machinery.

The operation of the three ink distributing cyl-A` inders by a common crank shaft is diagrammatically depicted in Figures 3, 4, 5. and 6, and the relative operable positions of the three cranks 58 are indicated at 58', 582 and 583 in these figures. Referring to Figure 3, 58' indicates the relative position of one of the ink distributing cylinder operating cranks 'where the crank has arrived at lof the crank member 58', and the axial movement at intermediate speed of two of the ink distributing cylinders in opposite directions neutralizes the eiect of the stationary cylinder.

`Aiter the cranks have moved clockwise a short distance. the crank member 583 arrives at its point of maximum load, as indicated in full lines in Figure 4,' where it imparts maximum reciprocatory speed to its ink distributing cylinder 34.

In this position the crank member 58' has arrived at a point of intermediate load, where it imparts intermediate axial speed to its ink distributing cylinder, and the member 582 has nearly reached the point of zero load, where it, in turn, is imparting almost zero .axial speed to its distributing cylinder. The position of intermediate load of crank member 58 and the almost zero load of the f crank member 583, compensates for the maximum load of the crank member 583, thereby insuring substantially constant torque; the intermediate and practically'zero speed imparted to two of the ink distributing cylinders by their crank members 58 and 582 while the remaining cylinder is being reciprocated at maximur/n speed by its crank 583 insures perfect ink distr bution during this phase of the operation of the ink distributing mechanism.

Further rotation of the crank shaft 38 brings the crank member '583 to its outer position of zero load, as shown in Figure 5, and the crank members 58' and 583 are then located at positions of intermediate load.V In this position the ink distributing cylinder 34 which is operated by the crank member 583 is momentarily stationary, but

the cylinders operated by the crank members 58' and 583 are moving at intermediate reciprocatory speeds, but in opposite directions. LThus it is seen that the zero load of crank members 583 is compensated by the intermediate load of the two crank members 58' and 583, thereby insuring substantially constant torque. In this position the stationary position of the cylinder which is operated by the crank 582 is also compensated by the cylinders which are operated by the cranks of intermediate load. Thus, the nearly zero load of crank member 58, and intermediate load of crank member 583, neutralizes the maximum load of the crank member 58. Also in this position, the almost zero axial speed of the ink distributing cylinder which is operated by the crank member one cylinder is ever stationary at a time, and,v

consequently, two cylinders are constantly moving axially to insure perfect inkdistribution and load equalization or balance so that substantially constant torque is maintained throughout the entire cycle of operation of the ink distributing mechanism. By maintaining substantially constant torque, vibratory impulses are reduced or eliminated, thereby preventing these impulses disturbing or effecting the ink distributing mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful in the art, is:-

1. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plurality of rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the cylinders, means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders so that only one cylinder is axially stationary at a time and the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, to maintain a constant balanced load on the said ink distributing cylinder reciprocating means, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform film, and means for conveying the ink lm to the plate cylinder.

2. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plurality of rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the cylinders, constantly moving means for axially reciprocating the ink` distributing cylinders so that only one cylinder is axially stationary at a time and the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform lm, and means for conveying the ink film to the plate cylinder. y

3. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plurality of rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the cylinders, rotary means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders so that only one cylinder is axially stationary at a time and the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform fllm,`and means for conveying the ink nlm to the plate cylinder.

4. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plural number greater than two .and less than five of rotary lnk distributing cylinders,

means for supplying ink to one of the cylinders,

means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders so that only one cylinder is axially stationary at a time, the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operablyengaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in aluniform lm, and means for conveying the film to the plate cylinder.

5. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plural number greater than two and less than/'five of rotary ink distributing cylinders, means fonsupplying ink to one of the cylinders, constantly moving means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders so that only one cylinder is axially stationary at a time, the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform film, and means for conveyingthe fllm to the plate-cylinder.

6. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plural number greater than two and less than nve of rotaryV ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the cylinders, rotary means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders so that only one cylinder is axially stationary at a time, the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform nlm, and means for conveying the iilm to the plate cylinder.

7. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, aplurality of rotary ink distributing cylinders positioned in operative order relative to the printing cylinder, means for supplying ink to the ink distributing cylinder which is furthermost from the printing cylinder, means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders so that only one is axially stationary at a time and the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform film, and means for conveying the ink iilm to the plate cylinder.

8. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plural number less than ve of rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the ink distributing cylinders, means for axially reciprocating the rotary ink distributing cylinders, so that more than half the number of ink distributing vcylinders are constantly moving axially, the reciprocatory impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith toA spread the ink in a uniform film, and means for conveying the ink film to the plate cylinder.

9. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a pluralmumber less than flve of rotary ink distributing cylinders positioned in operative order relative to the printing cylinder, means for supplying ink to the ink distributing cylinder which is furthermost operably from the printing cylinder, means for axially reciprocating the rotary ink distributing cylinders so that more than half the number of these cylinders are constantly moving axially, the reciprocatoryl impulses of the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods oi' operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform film, and means for conveying the ink film to the plate cylinders.

10. Inan inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, three rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the ink distributing cylinders, means for axially reciprocating the ink distributing cylinders one in advance of the others, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a Vuniform film, and means for conveying the ink film to the plate cylinder.

11. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, three rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the ink distributing cylinders, rotary means for imparting axial reciprocatory motion to the ink distributing cylinders, the reciprocatory impulses oi.' the cylinders being equally separated so that the cylinders follow each other through similar cycles of operation during equal periods of operating time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in uniform film, and means for conveying the ink lm to the plate cylinder.

12. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a plurality of rotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to one of the ink distributing cylinders, a rotary member for imparting axial reciprocatory motion to the ink distributing cylinders so that each ink distributing cylinder receives its maximum reciprocatory impulses 120 degrees of a cycle of operation of the said rotary member in advance of the succeeding cylinder, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform film, and means for conveying the ink film to the i,

y plate cylinder.

5 catory'impulses 120 degrees of a. cycle of operation of the said rotary member in advance of the following cylinder,/ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a unlthe' ink distributing cylinders, a rotary shaft' driven from one of the cylinders of the printingl couple, crank members carried by the shaft and operably positioned substantially 120 degrees apart, means for operablyconnectlng each crank member to an ink distributing cylinder to impart reciprocatoryl motion thereto, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform lm,'and meansffor conveying the ink film to the plate cylinder.

15. In a printing unit, twoprinting couples, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and animpression cylinder,a plurality of horizontally disposed inl: distributingcylinders positioned in substantially vertical alinement below each plate cylinder, means for operably interconnecting the ink distributing cylinders for rotation, means for rotating the ink ldistributing cylinders in such directionsthat' the portions of their peripheries which are disposed towards the `center of the printing unitmove upwardly, an

ink rail positioned at the inner side of the vertically disposed ink distributingcylinders located' below each plate cylinder to supply ink to the upwardly moving peripheral portion of the lowermost ink distributing cylinder, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform lm, and means for conveying the ink lm to theplate cylinder.

16. Ina printing unit, two printing couples, each printing couple including a platecylinder and an impression cylinder, three horizontally disposed ink distributing cylinders positioned in substantially vertical alinement below each plate cylindermeans for operably interconnecting the ink distributing cylinders for rotation, means for' rotating the ink distributing cylinders in such directions that the portions oi' their peripheries which are disposed towards the center of the printing unit move upwardly, an ink rail positioned at the inner ,side of the vertically disposed ink distributing cylinders located below each'plate cylinder to supply ink to the upwardly moving peripheral portion of the lowermost ink distributing cylinder, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a uniform lm, and meansy ,for conveying the ink lm to the plate cylinder.

'17. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple including a plate` cylinder` andY an-impr'ession cylinder, a plurality of Arotary ink distributing cylinders, means for supplying ink to the "cylinders, spaced bearings, a crank shaft rotatably supported in the bearings, a plurality of cranks carried by the shaft, means for operably connecting each crank to an ink distributing cylinder so that rotation of the shaft reciprocates the cylinders axially, the cranks being `so disposed that a constantly balanced load is maintained on the crankshaft bearings and no more than one ink distributing cylinder is axially sta-l soY tionary at a given time, ink distributing rollers operably engaging the ink distributing cylinders and coacting therewith to spread the ink in a. uniform iilm, and means for conveying the ink film to the plate cylinder.

18. In an inking mechanism for a printing couple, including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, three rotary ink distributing cylindei's, means for supplying ink to the cylinders, spaced axially alinecl bearings, a crank shaft rotatably supported in the bearings, three radially oiset cranks carried by the shaft and operably FREDERICK LAMATSCH. 

